DEDHAM, Mass. — Karen Read, the Mansfield woman accused of fatally injuring her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, after a party in 2022, will face a retrial in January 2025. This decision comes three weeks after her initial high-profile murder trial concluded with a jury unable to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial.
During a brief court session Monday, Judge Beverly Cannone scheduled the retrial for Jan. 27, preceded by a final pre-trial conference on Jan. 14. Read is also expected to return to Norfolk Superior Court on Aug. 9 for oral arguments regarding her defense’s motion to dismiss two of the three charges against her.
David Yannetti, Read’s attorney, expressed scheduling concerns during the hearing, citing another trial he is set to begin just two weeks prior in Essex County. Yannetti requested the flexibility to possibly push the retrial date, dependent on his obligations in Essex County.
Prosecutors allege that Read was impaired and acted with intent when she backed her SUV into Officer John O’Keefe, her boyfriend of two years, after dropping him off at a Canton house party on Jan. 29, 2022. The defense, however, claims Read was framed by witnesses and local law enforcement, describing her as a “convenient outsider.”
Read faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following the mistrial, her defense revealed that conversations with five jurors indicated a unanimous agreement among them that Read was not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene.
The defense has motioned to dismiss the murder and leaving the scene charges on grounds of double jeopardy, arguing that retrying Read on these counts would be legally inappropriate. However, the prosecution has countered, pointing out that the defense’s claims rely on hearsay and lack proper legal grounding.
The case has stirred significant public interest and media attention, marked by scenes outside the courthouse. On hearing days, Read, flanked by bodyguards and her legal team, navigated through crowds of onlookers and demonstrators, with some shouting accusations at her family members.
As the legal preparations continue, both sides are gearing up for what promises to be another exhaustive examination of the events leading to Officer O’Keefe’s tragic death. The legal discourse is poised to delve deeper into the night of the incident and whether other parties besides Read could bear responsibility for O’Keefe’s demise.
The forthcoming trial in Norfolk Superior Court not only seeks to bring closure to this tumultuous case but also highlights the complex interplay of personal relationships, substance use, and law enforcement practices under the scrutiny of public and judicial observation.